The reason behind choosing Lapis Lazuli as your Alternative September Birthstone lies in its ancient story and significance. Most researchers agree that sapphire was not known before the Roman Empire. Thus the stone mentioned as sapphire in the old testament refers to the Lapis Lazuli and not to the stone we call sapphire today. Furthermore, until the middle ages, people described the gem as blue speckled with gold which traces back to our Lapis Lazuli stone.